Chilly days and crisp leaves mean more than just returning to campus for fall term. It also means that Halloween is just around the corner — and before you know it, your inbox will be jammed full of Evites for the numerous bashes happening around town. Your goal: to find a unique, flattering, cool, trendy costume that is also budget-friendly. The great news is that you have come to the right place. Whether you are going solo, as a couple or getting a group together for the best Halloween party on campus, these cheap Halloween costume ideas will definitely make you the hit of any soiree!

Individual-ity

Maybe your best friend is a party pooper and refuses to dress up for Halloween—or perhaps your significant other does NOT want to be the yin to your yang. Who cares? There are plenty of great solo costumes available.

Definitely start by giving College Fashion‘s “15 College Halloween Costume Ideas for Girls on a Budget,” written by Chelsea October 11, 2012, a quick glance. From Juno to Justin (Bieber, that is), these costumes will not only make you the hit of the party, they will keep your bank account in check! Hey, guys! Don’t be fooled by the title. There are a few looks here that you could definitely rock, like a One Direction member.

For more inexpensive options, check out eCampus.com‘s “151 Halloween Costumes: Easy, Fast, Cheap!” Here you can browse numerous ideas and find detailed instructions on how to create a simple, yet fun and memorable, costume. The best part is that most of the getups can be created from raiding your closet (or your roommate’s)!

Pairing up

Regardless if you have begged or bribed your significant other or bff into a couple’s costume this year, you need something that will stand out. Forget Batman and Robin and Brangelina—go for a more unforgettable look. The Nest‘s “Creative Halloween Costumes for Couples” provides a few not-so-common ideas. Some personal favorites include:

Dexter and Victim

Mitchell and Cam from Modern Family

The Situation and Snookie

Black Swan and White Swan

Pepsi and Pop Rocks

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peg and Al Bundy

If you choose to go as a famous couple like Cam and Mitchell or Al and Peggy, be sure to stay in character all night!

The more the merrier

Group costumes can be a bit trickier as they require much more ingenuity. Now, if you are in the market for ready-made attire, begin with the basic online websites like Costume Express or Party City. Although the costumes might be a little more traditional, you won’t have to do any actual work or assembly. Plus, many of these online vendors offer coupons or free shipping with a minimum purchase—something that will be easy to hit if everyone orders at the same time (just make sure you place the order sooner rather than later so you don’t come into contact with expedited shipping fees!).

If someone in your group is crafty—or if everyone just likes to procrastinate—Buzzfeed‘s “22 Last-Minute DIY Halloween Costumes” might just be the go-to article this Halloween. (Note: if you opt to go as a pack of grapes, be sure to whine about being made into wine each time someone pops a balloon.) Although a few of the costume ideas might seem best for those going solo, use your imagination and turn them into a group idea. For example, use idea number 11 and have everyone in the group “Take an old dress . . . and draw on it with Sharpie to make a pumpkin.” Now the group can go as a pumpkin patch! Or, create a few crocodiles and appoint one of the group members to go as a crocodile hunter!

Do you have any favorite costumes for Halloweens past? If so, our readers would love to read about it in the comments section below. Be sure to give tips on how to duplicate the look! Happy Haunting!